Range L36-42 £122,306 to £141,693

Permanent contract

Required to start 1 September 2026 or 1 January 2027

King Edward VII School is a thriving, over-subscribed School with a diverse intake.  It is a stimulating place in which to work, offering many opportunities to students and staff alike. The School enjoys an excellent reputation and sees the calibre of its staff as a key strength. King Edward VII School has two sites within the S10 area, approximately 1.5 miles apart. At King Edward VII School we offer an excellent benefits package, including a pension, eye test vouchers and a wellbeing package. We also offer a full employee assistance programme (EAP).

An exceptional opportunity to lead a proud, ambitious and inclusive School

The Governing Board of King Edward VII School is seeking to appoint an exceptional Headteacher to succeed and build upon strong, principled leadership. This appointment represents a significant opportunity for an experienced and values‑driven leader to guide the School through its next chapter, preserving its distinctive character while securing continued excellence for future generations of students.

King Edward VII School is one of Sheffield’s most highly regarded 11–18 comprehensive schools in the city, steeped in history and tradition while remaining firmly focused on the future. With a strong academic reputation, the largest thriving Sixth Form in the region, and a richly diverse and inclusive community, the School is defined by high expectations, mutual respect and a shared commitment to excellence for all. 

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for an inspirational leader to build on strong foundations, safeguard the School’s distinctive character and values and shape a bold and ambitious vision for the years ahead.

The successful candidate will:

• Provide clear, strategic and values‑driven leadership, placing students’ learning, wellbeing and success at the heart of all decision‑making processes
• Champion an inclusive culture of integrity, curiosity and resilience, ensuring high expectations and aspirational outcomes for every student
• Lead and inspire a highly skilled and committed staff team, fostering professional growth, collaboration and collective accountability
• Build on the School’s strong academic performance and successful Sixth Form, ensuring excellence in teaching, learning and assessment across all phases
• Work in close partnership with governors, parents, carers and external partners to continue to strengthen the School’s position as an outward‑looking, community‑centred organisation 

We are looking for a Headteacher who:

• Is an exceptional educational leader with substantial senior leadership experience in a secondary setting
• Has the vision, credibility and presence to lead a complex and high‑performing School
• Leads with moral purpose
• Demonstrates a deep commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, inclusion, safeguarding and widening opportunities for all
• Has the ability to balance strategic thinking with warmth, visibility and approachability
• Is ambitious for young people and for the profession, with the resilience and integrity required of this pivotal role
• Has the emotional intelligence and presence to motivate and empower staff
• Values strong partnerships with families, governors and the wider community

In return, we offer:

• The opportunity to lead a confident, successful and forward‑thinking School with a proud history and a clear sense of purpose
• A highly experienced Senior Leadership Team, Leadership Team and a skilled, committed staff body
• A supportive and experienced Governing Board
• A School community where students are respectful, engaged and ambitious

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expect all staff to show this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to complete Disclosure and Barring Service declarations in line with Section 115 of the Police Act 1997. All applicants are required to read the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy incorporating Self-Harm and Online Safety, this can be found here.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS certificate. As the post will involve regulated activity with children, it is a criminal offence to apply for this post if you are included on the children’s barred list held by the DBS.

Amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are “protected”. These are not subject to the disclosure to employers and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the ministry of justice website or see here.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. You may be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment in confirmed. We will perform online searches as part of due diligence for all shortlisted candidates.

Application Process

Click on the link at the bottom of the page to download the recruitment pack.

Please note: Only applications on the standard Sheffield LA leadership application form will be accepted.

Write a letter of application on no more than two sides of A4 paper using font size 12 that includes:

1. How you would maintain high academic outcomes while continuing to innovate
2. Your educational vision and the kind of culture you would nurture for students and staff
3. Strategic leadership and community engagement
4. Your views upon the current educational structures e.g. maintained schools, multi-academy trusts and other models

Submit your application by the closing date: Thursday 14 May 2026 – 12 noon

Interview dates: Tuesday 19 May 2026 and Wednesday 20 May 2026

Potential state date: September 2026 or January 2027

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Letter from the Chair of Governors

Dear Prospective Applicant

Thank you for your interest in the post of Headteacher at King Edward VII School. I am very pleased that you are considering applying to lead our unique and ambitious School that is steeped in history that dates back to the 17th century. The vacancy has arisen as a result of our current Headteacher, Linda Gooden’s, retirement after some twenty years of exceptional leadership and commitment to the School.

As Chair of Governors, I feel privileged to be part of King Edward VII School. My personal connection with the School spans more than fifteen years and I have been honoured to serve as a parent governor, Vice Chair and now Chair of the Governing Board. I am immensely proud of our School’s achievements and the special place it holds within our local and the wider Sheffield community.

We are seeking an exceptional individual with extensive leadership experience who is able to build on the strengths and successes that Linda and her Leadership Team, together with all staff and governors, have brought to the School. King Edward VII School is a fully inclusive community secondary School which draws students from across the City of Sheffield as a result of strong parental preference. The School is incredibly diverse which is something that we value and students and parents value, offering a unique strength with students experiencing a special harmonious learning community that acknowledges and celebrates difference and enhances tolerance. We have a very large and very successful Sixth Form and therefore a prospective leader with Post 16 experience would be most welcome to apply.

Our new Headteacher should be an inspirational leader who is strong, resilient, resourceful and approachable. A compassionate and supportive leader who is passionate and knowledgeable about the pursuit of excellent teaching and learning and has a love of working with young people. The person specification provides a more comprehensive list of the qualities we are looking for, but in essence we wish to appoint somebody with the wisdom, experience and confidence to take the School forward on the next stage of its historic journey; someone who builds on what is currently excellent and ensures we continue to improve by embracing the opportunities and challenges which are offered in a confident and ambitious learning community where a culture of high expectations exist for students, staff and governors.

A visit to the school is essential to see the students and staff at work. We would like to invite any interested candidates to join us on Friday 8 May 2026. There will be a morning and afternoon session. Please contact Mr Tom Hall – HR & Cover Manager at recruitment@kes.sheffield.sch.uk or via telephone on 0114 229 6560 to make an appointment.

I look forward to hearing from you and receiving your completed application.

Yours faithfully

Dr Peter Dickson

Chair of Governors